My English Course B2

Among the different types of “food tasters”, Mike is a curious explorer! He shares his adventure of trying fries, a favourite snack in his host country.

Was it a taste to remember… or a taste to regret?

This story is based on a real interview with an Erasmus+ participant.

I had been dreaming about trying these famous fries for ages! Everyone spoke about them as if they were golden treasures: crisp on the outside, pillowy on the inside, the most irresistible fries imaginable. So, of course, I went all in and ordered a large portion. Big mistake.

From the very first bite, I knew something was wrong. Instead of a crunchy, delicate texture, the fries felt dense and soggy with grease. The flavour was unsettling too, the sweet taste of the potato was overpowered by the taste of rancid oil! My high expectations quickly collapsed, and finishing them was impossible. Sadly, the giant box of fries ended up sitting in my fridge for three days, staring at me like a greasy ghost every time I opened the door.

But the story doesn’t end in tragedy. A little later, I discovered a new place that fried their potatoes in olive or sunflower oil. What a revelation! These fries were lustrously golden, irresistibly crisp, and exquisitely savoury, with a light, almost nutty undertone. Every bite felt vibrant, delightfully crunchy, and deeply satisfying. That’s when I realised it wasn’t fries I disliked – it was the cloying oil from the first place.

Maybe one day I’ll face my fear, but for now, I’m sticking to the fries that don’t haunt my fridge afterwards!